Presentation Outline I. Introduction II Status of Forest in the ECOWAS Region II. ECOWAS Forest Policy III. ECOWAS Environmental Policy IV. Forest Convergence Plan for the Sustainable

Management and Utilization of Forest Ecosystems in West Africa (FCP)

- Goals and Objectives - Implementation Plan - Perspective

1. Introduction ECOWAS Forest Policy document prepared

with assistance from FAO in the framework of ECOWAS Common Agricultural Policy

Validated by technical experts December, 2005 in Lome, Togo

Updated in 2007 with some more recent figures on the basis of FAO’s Forest Resource Assessment (FRA 2005)

II Status of Forest in the ECOWAS Region

72 millions Ha of Forest including 27.7

millions Ha of classified forest;

Coverage forest rate of 14% of the territory of the WA, but with large variations between countries; - Guinea-Bissau 60% of the Territory; - Niger with about 1%.

Status Firewood represents about 85% of the total energy

consumption of West African countries Consumption will increase from: - 204 million m³ in 2010

- 235 million m³ in 2020, due to the effect of population growth

Daily consumption: 1.2 kg / Person

The share of A O in the African consumption of firewood is about 27.5%

Status

- Africa recorded a loss of 3.4 million hectares of forest per year between 2000 and 2010 - The sub-region recorded on the average an alarming deforestation estimated at 1.2 million hectares per year (FAO, 2006) - Forest area for firewood: 1,033,333 ha - Area may be doubled if the consumption of charcoal increases because 1kg charcoal request 3 kg wood

Consequences

- Increased exposure of land to erosion with the consequent reduction of soil fertility, - Reduced availability of groundwater, Biodiversity loss, - Deteriorating food security (health and malnutrition) - Migration, (loss of life in the wilderness and ocean for migrants to Europe), - Conflicts Including land issues

II. ECOWAS Forest Policy The overall goal is the conservation and

sustainable development of the plant and animal genetic resources, restoration of degraded forest lands for the lasting benefit of the people of ECOWAS

The objectives include:-

To harness the potential of forests to improve food security

Policy Objectives (contd) To integrate forestry in the sustainable

economic development of countries

To contribute to environmental protection

Strengthening institutional structures

Reforestation to restore degraded forests and woodlands

III.Development of ECOWAS Environmental Policy ECOWAS has the objective to promote

cooperation and integration, leading to establishment of an economic union in West Africa, in order to raise the living standard of the people.

Articles 25&29 of ECOWA Treaty stipulate that member States agree to cooperate in order to develop agriculture, silvi-culture, animal husbandry and fisheries

ECOWAS Environmental Policy

(ECOWEP)

The ECOWAS revised treaty further recognizes the need for “policies harmonization and coordination for the protection of the environment”

Hence in 2007 the creation of a Directorate of Environment in the ECOWAS Commission

The Directorate is responsible for this policy harmonization and coordination in the field of natural resources and environment in general

ECOWEP By November 2007 the Directorate

had finalized draft ECOWEP and was validated by regional experts (Nov 2007) Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The Policy was adopted by the Summit of Heads of State in Dec 2008

Overall Objective of ECOWEP To reverse environmental degradation

and depletion of natural resources , ameliorate the quality of the living environment, conserve biological diversity, with a view to ensuring a healthy and productive environment; thereby improving the well- being of the ecosystem and the population of the sub-region

ECOWEP Strategic Lines

Policy has four Strategic Pillars

Strategic Pillar No.2: Promotion of sustainable management of resources for the improvement of an environment-friendly sub-regional economy

The pillar deals with Forest issues under four sub-pillars

Pillar no. 2 To improve sustainable management of

natural resources

To promote management, conservation and sustainable development of forests, fauna and grazing lands

Combat land degradation, drought and desertification

Sustainable management of coastal, island and marine ecosystems

Need for Dialogue on Forests Forest and wildlife management in West

Africa is generally based on various individual national regulations and policies with no real consultation and dialogue among member States

So the need for a sub-regional effort at common policy – Dialogue on forest

Process spanned over four years 2006 - 2010

Processes in the Forest Dialogue Development

Process has been lengthy but participatory

Major actors include: ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions, CILSS, the FAO, IUCN, CIFOR, ICRAF, AFF, Forestry and Wildlife experts from Member States of ECOWAS, CSOs, Private Sector, Parliamentarians and selected Consultants

The Stages in the Development Process July 2006 initial meeting by IUCN in

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

April 2007 Endorsement by ECOWAS Ministers of Environment; assigned coordination role to ECOWAS/UEMOA

January 2009 in Accra, Ghana Forest Dialogue study report considered by experts

June 2010, Cotonou, Benin adopted by sector Ministers and requsted FAO for support to prpare Forest Convergence Plan

IV Forest Convergence Plan From 2011 – 2012 national consultations

with country reports followed by country validation workshops in 14 countries

2012 – 2013, Regional validation meetings and ministerial adoption of the FCP

Goal and Objectives Countries in West Africa have quite similar

challenges in terms of forestry, and none of them is able to address them on its own;

The goal of FCP therefore is to be a federating framework to enable states to undertake actions at national, regional and trans-boundary levels

Goal and Objectives (contd) West African countries sustainably

manage in concerted manner forest and wildlife resources in the sub-region for the wellbeing of their populations and environmental preservation by 2025

Implementation To be based on 7 Priority Areas of

Intervention

Harmonization of legislative and forest policies

Knowledge on the state and dynamics of forest ecosystems

Development of forest ecosystems and reforestation

Implementation Biodiversity conservation

Enhancement of ecosystems goods and services for food security, economic stability and environmental sustainability

Forest research and development

Information, education and communication

Priority Areas of Intervention (PAI) These are constituted into Thematic areas

Institutions in ECOWAS with related field of expertise are grouped in appropriate Thematic area

Institutions with comparative advantage chosen as Group Leader July 2014

April 2015 Thematic Group Leaders developed Action Plan 2016 – 2020

Sep 2015 Action Plan reviewed and finalized by small expert group

Implementation Mechanisms A. Institutional mechanism

Committee of Ministers

Sub-regional Advisory Committee

Technical and Scientific Committee

The Technical Unit- operational body to ensure coordination and implementation

Implementation Mechanisms B. Funding mechanism

Internal and External

The process will explore all possible funding sources

C. Budget: $53,845,400 estimated for implementation of the current form of FCP

.Perspective ECOWAS Commission will submit the draft

Action Plan to member States in 2016 for consideration and adoption

Member States to promote development initiatives in the areas of forestry and agro-forestry

Promote development of National Investment Plans to implement the FCP

Perspective (contd.) FCP to be integrated into the recently

established ECOWAS Regional Agriculture and Food Agency

Determine criteria for identification of members of the Sub-regional Advisory Committee

Development of carbon finance

Conclusion Process may have taken years to develop,

however the Authorities of ECOWAS Commission and the sector Ministers are pleased with the outcome

It is expected that the implementation of the FCP will contribute to achieving the strategic objective of sound mgt of natural resources and environmental preservation

Conclusion Commitment of partners and all

actors through the process highly appreciated

Funds mobilization is crucial for successful implementation of the adopted FCP

Thank You All For Your Attention